The Oyo State Government has disclosed that the ₦30 billion released by the Federal Government as part of the intervention fund approved after the January 16, 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan has not been spent more than a year after it was paid into the state’s account.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, the state government explained that although President Bola Tinubu approved a total of ₦50 billion for post-explosion intervention, only ₦30 billion has so far been released through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to the statement, the funds were credited to Oyo State on November 4, 2024, and have since remained untouched in a dedicated account created specifically for the intervention.

The government said an Infrastructure Support Account was opened with First Bank of Nigeria for the purpose of managing the funds, adding that as of December 31, 2025, the ₦30 billion remained intact. It also invited members of the public to verify the claim through the bank.

The state government said it deliberately refrained from utilising the funds because the remaining ₦20 billion of the approved amount has not been released by the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the decision to hold off on spending the released sum was further reinforced by recent controversies surrounding the approval and disbursement process, prompting the government to adopt a “wait-and-see” approach until the balance is paid.

The Oyo State Government stressed that nearly two years after the devastating explosion, the outstanding ₦20 billion remains unpaid, despite the initial approval of ₦50 billion for the intervention.

The disclosure follows recent demands by the African Action Congress (AAC), Oyo State chapter, which called for transparency over the handling of relief funds meant for victims of the Bodija explosion.

The AAC’s demand came after reports claimed that only ₦4.5 billion had been officially approved by the state government for compensation, despite assertions that ₦50 billion had been released by the Federal Government.

AAC Oyo State Chairman, Kayode Babayomi, accused the state government of failing to clearly account for the funds, citing claims attributed to former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose that ₦50 billion was released to support the victims.

The Bodija explosion, which occurred on January 16, 2024, was caused by explosives illegally stored in a residential building by miners. The blast claimed several lives, destroyed homes, damaged over 230 properties, and displaced hundreds of residents.

Following the incident, the Oyo State Government announced relief and resettlement plans for affected families, approving ₦4.5 billion as part of its intervention efforts.